January 28, 1863. Snow, Wind and Mud.

"Jan. 28. Stormy; sleet and snow falling all day; but the pickets and guards tie the haversacks close to their necks, and rubbers over the shoulders, and start to relieve those who have been on duty for twenty-four hours, knowing that they, too, will be relieved, the same hour to-morrow morning. Slowly, slowly, wear the hours again, as the boys sit in the leaky bough-houses; snow and rain now and then splashing through the pine shelters; and nothing heard all day-all night-save the roar of the muddy waters of the river rushing madly by them. Before morning the snow is a foot deep in the fields; but this mud-mud-in the roads."  ~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment,  The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864) 

“January 28. The small pox has raged to some extent in this regiment, and much fear was felt that it would spread alarmingly, but the regiment have all been vaccinated, and no new cases have occurred lately, so that nothing further is to be apprehended. A cold storm of rain and snow to-day.” ~ J. C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Life in Camp, 76 (1864)

“Jan. 28. The wind blows a perfect hurricane, and the snow blinds the eye, so that it is an impossibility to see anything or get anywhere. It is one of the most severe snow strorms that ever passed over this country or any other. A perfect current of wind upset my tent, and had quite a time in putting it up. The wind calmed down to a gentle breeze about noon. Freezing a very little to-night, but is not so cold as morning.” ~ Diary of Oliver A. Browne, Co. K, 15th Regiment.


“January 28th: …I have keen a little unwell for a few days and this morning I went up to the Surgeon and he gave me three pills and said that I was billious. I next went to the Q. M.'s to commence my days work and found they had all "been out late last night" and were not ready to go to work. Uncle Joseph is gaining some, he is round out of doors. We are having a useful snowstorm this morning but I fear we shall not get enough for sleighing as the snow melts almost as fast as it comes.

“Evening: Still snowing and there is somewhere in the neighborhood of six inches of snow on the ground. Our present campground is the muddiest one we have had and our street almost is the worst, or rather was the worst in the Reg't I say, was because we have taken poles and corduroyed it all over so that it is not muddy although it is very rough to travel on. We shall probably remain here until after the rainy season is over. The 2nd Conn. Battalion which was with us undertook to move the other day and fairly floundered in the mud.  ~ Hezron G. Day, pvt., Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter of January 28, 1863